Christmas Essentials for a Cozy Holiday

Create a cozy holiday aesthetic in your home this season with these Christmas essentials.

These next few weeks are truly the coziest time of the year. The chilly temperatures, the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree, and the roaring fire in the fireplace invite us to snuggle up with a cup of hot cocoa with a classic Christmas movie on the tv.

As cozy and magical Christmas can be, it can also be a busy and stressful time. There is so much to do during the holidays; from buying gifts, to parties to host & attend, to family gatherings, and so much more. We can get caught up in all we have to do, and forget to stop and really enjoy the season.

So, this holiday, add some or all of these Christmas essentials to your home to create a cozy holiday aesthetic. Take a break from the hustle & bustle to relax and enjoy all that this season has to offer. Who wouldn’t love spending a cold December day in Christmas jammies eating sugar cookies by the fire?!

Christmas Blog Hop

As we enter the most wonderful time of the year, I am joining 6 other bloggers to bring you Christmas ideas to inspire you for the holidays! Continue reading to the end of this blog post for links to each of the inspirational Christmas blog posts. Thank you to my friend Rebecca at Rouse in the House for hosting this blog hop.

If this is your first time stopping by Eleanor Rose Home, welcome! I am so glad you are here! You can learn more about me, my family, and Eleanor Rose Home here.

Oh, and don’t forget to grab your free Christmas printables, here!

10 Christmas Essentials You Need for a Cozy Holiday

Twinkling Lights

The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree make the shorter days of winter a little more bearable. I love the festive glow and ambiance the lights of the Christmas tree add to our home at the holidays.

The soft white lights add warmth and coziness, just what is needed to fight the winter blues.

You can shop our pre-lit Christmas tree here. I also like to add these battery operated candles for even more cozy glow on the tree.

Create a Hot Cocoa Station

Tis the season…to create a hot cocoa station!

There is nothing more cozy and soul warming than a warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold winters day.

Creating a hot cocoa station is a Christmas essential for a family get together, adult Christmas gathering, kid’s birthday party, or just for a night watching Christmas movies by the fire.

Check out the details on how to create a hot cocoa station in your home, along with free printable tags for the hot cocoa toppings, here.

Turn on Christmas Music

A cozy home embraces all five senses, so don’t forget about the sense of hearing.

While you’re busy working around the house, turn on some good old fashioned Christmas music! I love classic Christmas music, but turn on any tunes that will get you into the festive holiday spirit.

Christmas is the only time of year with it’s own music, enjoy it!

Bake Sugar Cookies

In our home, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without homemade cookies! Specifically, homemade sugar cookies cut out into fun Christmas shapes.

This cookie baking tradition started with my mom when I was a child. I fondly remember her baking these sugar cookies, and my father, sister, and I frosting them. Once bite of these cookies brings me right back to my childhood. I love continuing this tradition in my home, with my family.

Find my sugar cookie roll out recipe, here. The secret to these delicious cookies? Store bought vanilla frosting!

Light Candles

Christmas scented candles are my favorite candles, and quite frankly I could burn them all year long. The scents of pine, cedar, citrus, cinnamon, and clove are my favorite holiday scents and remind of Christmas each time I light one. What does Christmas smell like to you?

We always have an Antique Candle Co. candles burning in our home. They are beautiful candles, and the scents are heavenly!

My favorite Christmas candles from Antique Candle Co. are:

• Christmas Day
• Homemade Gingerbread
• Spiced Cranberry
• Tree Farm
• Winter Woods

Watch Christmas Movies

One of my favorite Christmas past times is snuggling on the couch with a Christmas movie on tv. It’s cozy and as with Christmas music, we only get one time of year to enjoy them.

Some of our families favorite Christmas movies include:

• White Christmas
• Home Alone
• Polar Express
• Elf
• The Santa Clause
• The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
• Miracle on 34th Street
• A Christmas Carol

Simmer Stovetop Potpourri

This is one of my favorite ways to infuse our home with the smells of Christmas. Add water, seasonal ingredients, and spices to a pot, then simmer on the stove.

Here’s how to make Christmas stovetop potpourri:

• 5-6 dried orange slices
• 4-5 dried apple slices
• Cinnamon sticks
• Bay leaves
• Cloves
• Star anise
• Pine boughs
• 8 cups water

In a Dutch oven, combine orange & apple slices, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, cloves, star anise, and pine boughs. Cover with water and bring to a simmer over low heat. Continue to simmer, uncovered for up to 2 hours. Replenish water as needed. Can be used for multiple days (keep pot covered when not simmering), as long as water is replenished.

Stovetop potpourri can also be given as a homemade Christmas gift. Find out how, here.

Cuddle With Throw Blankets

Christmas essentials must include throw blankets! Even Eleanor cannot resist a good snuggle on the couch with a cozy throw blanket.

I like to update the throw blankets in our living room according to the seasons. For winter, I place thicker textured blankets on our couch to keep us warm. Wool, fleece, velvet, and cotton are all get fabrics to look for in winter blankets.

Add a Christmas Tree to the Bedroom

This was the first year we added a Christmas tree to our bedroom. And let me tell you, it won’t be the last!

The Christmas tree has added the perfect amount of coziness and ambiance to our bedroom for the holiday season. It does makes staying in bed all day that much easier.

Our bedroom Christmas tree remains undecorated and I am kind of loving it! Don’t be afraid to leave a tree bare, sometimes it’s more beautiful without all the added décor.

Bring Nature In

One of the most budget friendly and coziest ways to decorate for the holidays is by bringing the outdoors in.

In this corner of our home, I added natural décor to a seagrass basket and filled with birch logs, greenery, and pinecones.

Star anise is another Christmas essential. Not only do I use this licoricey spice in stovetop potpourri, I have incorporated star anise into our home décor as well!

Last year, I added natural pine boughs to our entryway by simply styling them in a linen shopping bag.

Dried orange slices are a great option for natural décor. Hung as ornaments or as a garland they resemble mini stained glass window!

More Christmas Essentials

For more Christmas & holiday ideas and inspiration from me, click here!

There is even more Christmas inspiration at the end of this post from my blogging friends. Be sure to check out their amazing Christmas decorating ideas!

Shop Our Home

Links to products featured in this post can be found in our “Shop Our Home” page. I hope this page makes shopping our home a little easier for you! I earn a small commission when you make a purchase from one of our LTK links. Your support helps me continue to create meaningful content for you!

I look forward to sharing more of my home with you and inspiring you to have a well loved home! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LIKEtoKNOW.it.

Bloggers’ Christmas Inspiration

Returning Grace Designs | Midwest Life & Style | Rouse in the House | Vintage & Grace Living

Live Oak Nest | Le Cultivateur | Eleanor Rose Home

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